This post was updated July 9 at 9:38 p.m.

Habibi Cafe, a Middle Eastern restaurant and hookah bar in Westwood Village, was ordered to close June 5 by the Los Angeles City Council because of several permit violations.

Leo Daube, LA City Council District 5 communications director, said that although the cafe only had a permit to operate as a restaurant, it simultaneously operated a hookah lounge and reportedly sold alcohol, which is prohibited by city law. In addition to the permit violations, Habibi Cafe was closed because of allegations of criminal activity spanning almost two decades, he clarified.

“The other (issue) is just the long list of documented evidence of criminal activity stemming from this property between 2001 and 2020,” Daube said.

In the last 19 years, 51 investigative reports, notices to appear or arrest reports have been submitted to the LAPD about matters at Habibi Cafe, Daube said.

Daube said one of the most serious incidents at Habibi Cafe was a shooting in 2005. He added that the reports included accounts of shootings, attempted murder, armed robbery, battery, fights, late night hours of operation, loud music, unpermitted live entertainment, unpermitted encroachments on the public sidewalk, illegal smoking and unpermitted liquor sales.

[Related: [Online Exclusive]: Shooting at Westwood hookah bar leaves bystander seriously injured]

In February 2021, the Department of City Planning initiated a process to revoke the cafe’s operation on the property, per Municipal Code 12.27.1, followed by a site visit in March 2021. In May 2021, there was a public hearing where the Department of City Planning discussed possible imposition of conditions to abate the nuisance from Habibi Cafe with community stakeholders, Daube said.

Daube said the city council hosted the hearing to encourage Habibi Cafe to abide by its permit regulations.

In October 2021, Habibi Cafe was given conditions to correct business issues in order to stay open by the Department of City Planning. The conditions included a requirement for the business to close at 10 p.m., which was appealed by the cafe and denied by the council in November.

The city council voted to revoke and discontinue Habibi Cafe’s use of the property in November. In June, the owners were notified to vacate the property and given 15 days to comply.

However, Daube said the owners of Habibi Cafe have vacated, moved across the street, and are attempting to operate again.

“You don’t get out of operating a business illegally just because you move across the street. All it does is delay action,” Daube said.

Daube said though the cafe has moved, the city will take more severe action if legal issues continue to appear.

Andrew Lewis, the vice president of the North Westwood Neighborhood Council, said he is concerned the cafe’s closure will impact nightlife in Westwood because of the lack of activities and business open after 2 a.m.

“It was extremely unique in that sense – that it was a late night option for folks to grab food or go out,” Lewis said. “We’re going to lose a prominent entertainment venue for the area in our college community, which I think is a loss and it may be tough to get back.”

Lewis added that one of the top priorities for the next NWWNC term is focusing on trying to bring businesses to Westwood. Michael Russell, executive director of the Westwood Village Improvement Association, added in an emailed statement that there are currently no businesses venturing to take over the space Habibi Cafe vacated.

Habibi Cafe did not respond to requests for comment.

Daube said that while Habibi Cafe’s closing is an unfortunate consequence of the business breaking the law, he would ordinarily prefer to keep businesses open in Westwood.

“Like all small businesses, we want to make sure that people have what they need to support their business as long as they’re doing it in a legal way,” Daube said.